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Fact Check:

A story widely reported in media states an Attacker Cut Muslim Girl’s Hijab with Scissors, as told by the girl Khawlah Noman herself. Hijab is a piece of cloth material that Muslim women (and girls) wear in the presence of adult males outside of their immediate family. It usually covers the head and chest. The 11-year-old girl said a man followed her from behind and cut off her hijab twice, on her way to school. So let us check if the suggested ‘hate crime’ incident reported by Khawlah Noman is true or not.

About the Incident Reported

The Toronto Muslim girl Khawlah Noman described the attack on her, at a news conference on 12th January 2018. According to her, a man in his 20’s followed her from behind while she was walking to school with her younger brother, Mohammad Zakariyya. The attacker allegedly cut her Hijab twice before smiling and running away. Khawlah’s brother and her mother, Saima Samad were also present as the girl spoke to reporters. The 11-year-old girl also said she’s “actually really scared” to walk to school after the incident.

The reported incident was seen as a hate crime and even Police investigated on same lines. Khawlah Noman captured national attention after her news conference. Many Canadians sympathized with the alleged unfortunate incident. Even government officials including Toronto Mayor and Candian Prime Minister issued statements condemning the ‘incident’ and sympathizing with the girl.

Did an Attacker Cut Muslim Girl’s Hijab?

To everyone’s surprise, the incident portrayed by Khawlah Noman saying an attacker cut her hijab did not actually happen. Toronto Police conducted a detail investigation and concluded the events described by Khawlah Noman in the original news release did not happen.

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Canada Prime Minister said he was relieved the incident did not take place. He also mentioned the concerns over unfortunate increase in hate crimes in past months directed towards religious minorities, especially towards women. Mark Pugash, a police spokesman said the girl Khawlah Noman who reported the incident will not face any legal consequences.

Some people, however, said Khawlah Noman and her family owe Canada an apology. On the other hand, a human rights advocate, Amira Elghawaby said she felt sad learning the girl’s story was not true. She also stressed that the 11-year-old girl probably does not really understand the full implications of what she has done, and deserves compassion from adults.